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Originally Posted by SirSeymour
Then you are a better man than I and I mean that in the most sincere way. I have worked hard to develop the skill set I have and to be compensated accordingly. I would resent being part of a communist state where I was expected to give according to my ability so that others could have according to their need when they did not work as hard as I did to start with.
I guess it might be ok if everyone's motives are pure and everyone is giving the same effort but if that were not the case I would stop trying as there would be no incentive to work as hard as I do.
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Contribution is incentive. A socialist/communist puts society and humanity as a whole above the interests of the individual. It's about equality. The sacrifice, as you correctly state, is that those who work for self do not generally get ahead in a system geared toward common good.
If one is a doctor under a capitalist system, one receives a lavish salary. If one is a fruit picker in a capitalist system, one receives barely enough to live on. Communism is, simply, that all contribution is rewarded with adequate means to live and pursue happiness (unless happiness is being better off than people around you).
I've read Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene" about a hundred times. I do believe, though, that living counter to our baser instincts is the key to overcoming things like war and poverty; things that seem to come with a capitalistic system. Basically: we're stronger than our more visceral, animalistic natures. Therein lies the path to real equality.